FILM SCHOOL - LOVEMAKERS SHOW IN FLAVOR PILL

Oakland's sleek, co-ed threesome the Lovemakers join forces with San Francisco's ethereal five-piece Film School for an evening of synth-pop and indie rock. The Lovemakers, who recently signed to Interscope Records, unabashedly seduce, convulse, and make out on stage, pouring on the sex and suggestion with their come-ons and tightly structured pop music. But where their approach is coolly explicit, Film School's is modestly implicit — the group's haunting, subtle melodies reveal themselves far more slowly and self-consciously. Fall in love with them both in a single night. (RJH)

In light of the Lovemakers' song "Internet Girlfriend," tell us a story about an online romance. Our favorite three answers each win a pair of tickets to the show.

Hopkins and The Hives.....

Featured in the MUSIC section of ENTERTAINMENT.IE today.......right above The Hives.

David HopkinsYou might be more familiar with Dublin born David Hopkins from the days of Lir. No he's never been a swan-child but he was, once upon a time, the keyboard player and songwriter for this critically acclaimed band. It was in the 90s, we all had bigger hair. But back to the present. Now settled in San Francisco, David Hopkins has completed his most recent solo endeavor and returned home for a five week touring stint; taking in 02 In The Park, The Hard Working Class Heroes Festival, Solas, the Waterford Forum and The Ruby Sessions, before heading off to Manchester. If you're not in possession of 'Here Comes the Bright Light', get on the bandwagon for his 2nd record 'One Dark Morning'. He's one of those thoughtful singer/songwriter types but with carefully crafted lyrical bitterness subtly submerged among deceptive melodies. We like that around here. See the site for individual show details.

Monday, August 23, 2004

MSNBC NEWS: The Killers may make the Shortlist

NEW YORK - Loretta Lynn, Macy Gray and the rock group The Killers are among the 73 artists being considered for the annual Shortlist Music Prize, which honors artists whose albums were critically acclaimed but fell short of mainstream commercial success.

I had no idea that HOT FUSS was a concept album........

My friend Iann is in love with The Killers. He doesn't love many things -- he certainly hates about 85% of the bands I love -- but he loves the Killers. So much so that he managed to figure out that their Hot Fuss is a concept album (meanwhile, i just thought it was a collection of awesome songs). Here's his breakdown:

"Here's the whole story arc:
Andy kills Jenny "Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine".
"Mr. Brightside" tells why he did it -- hence the lyric "all in my head."
"Smile Like You Mean It" is a memory of them together that he knew she was going to leave him.
"Somebody Told Me" is people whispering that he killed her, because she found out he was gay or had had a gay affair (hence the chorus).
"All These Things I've Done" is him rationalizing it all while being ont he lamb.
"Andy, You're A Star " is the kid who falls in love with him watching him on TV [Iann doesn't mention it here, but in our IM he aptly compared it to "Last of the Famous International Playboys" by Morrissey -- which happens to be our favorite Moz song].
"On Top" is about him being on the lamb.
"Change You Mind" is him having rationalized what he's done and trying to convince his parents or his friends.
"Believe Me Natalie" is Jenny's best friend who brings the cops and he's trying to convince her he didn't do it.
"Everything Will Be alright" is about him in jail, realizing what he's done but feeling it'll be ok."

Saturday, August 21, 2004

THE KILLERS CRUSH THE V FESTIVAL this afternoon

THE KILLERS wowed fans at V FESTIVAL this afternoon (August 21) – drawing massive crowds to both their mid-afternoon set and their appearance at the NME SIGNING TENT.

The band played on the NME Stage, on a bill that also includes Keane, Elbow, Embrace and Kings Of Leon.

During their set, the band showcased songs from their hit album ’Hot Fuss’, including ’Smile Like You Mean It’, ’Somebody Told Me’ and 'Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine’.

Some fans brought with them a giant banner bearing the band’s name made out of CDs. Speaking to NME.COM backstage, singer Brandon Flowers said the show had been one of their best festival experiences so far.

He said: “It was the sunniest show we’ve ever played! I heard there was a massive banner, I liked it! The best song was ’All These Things That I’ve Done’. Leaving with ’All These Things That I’ve Done’.”

The singer said that he was looking forward to the band’s opportunity to meet their fans at the NME Signing Tent, but hoped there would be no repeat of the earlier scenes at Weston Park when BRMC stormed off after a fan asked for an inflatable penis to be signed.

He laughed: “There’s always some skin and hats and wallets! I don’t think I would sign (an inflatable penis). I’m with them on that!”

Don't hate the playa...The Killers to appear on THE O.C.

The hottest trends in television and music are coming together as Modest Mouse, the Killers, and the Walkmen have all signed on to appear in episodes of the second season of the popular TV hit, The O.C.. Both the Killers and the Walkmen have already finished filming their appearances, with the Walkmen performing “Little House of Savages” and “What's in It for Me” from their latest LP, Bows + Arrows.

The show has featured backdrop songs from bands such as Franz Ferdinand and Interpol in past episodes, in addition to a high profile appearance by Los Angeles rockers Rooney.

Dance-rock jam "Somebody Told Me" has already proved itself at modern rock radio: The wildly infectious track peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in the Aug. 21 issue. Now, along come these potent remixes, which deserve to reach the summits of the Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Dance Singles Sales charts. Producer/ remixers King Unique and Josh Harris did not simply lay vocals atop newly constructed tracks, which is most often the case with today's remixes. Instead, they made a concerted effort to maintain the original song's integrity. This has resulted in one very urgent club track that is equal parts rock, new wave and house. In the process, the identity of the Las Vegas-based quartet is not lost or compromised—neither is the song's oh-so-catchy chorus. With dance-rock sounds gaining momentum on dancefloors, the timing is right for these remixes. But do yourself a favor and don't stop with this single. Dig into the act's debut album, "Hot Fuss," for more tasty treats.—MP

CMJ Weekly had this to say:
"Lannon concentrates on the songs on Chemical Friends, melding Smiths's or Simon and Garfunkel's pop songwriting skill with glitchy programming that will appeal to fans of M83 or Mum."

TONIGHT!! DAVID HOPKINS & ALEXI MURDOCH @ Cafe Du Nord

'Alexi Murdoch's music recalls the great British folk singers of the 70s--artists like John Martyn, Nick Drake and Bert Jansch. Murdoch draws on these influences, and synthesizes them into his own fresh and evocative musical language.'
-- HITS Magazine

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

THE RAMONES NAME GENERATOR

ALL THESE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE video - watch it!

So many of my buds have been asking where they can see the 'All These Things That I've Done' video, as it is currently #5 on the NME Chart Show on MTV2 in the UK, while we haven't even seen the 'Mr Brightside' video here in the states yet.

FILM SCHOOL's "P.S." to be featured on the WB's STUDIO 7 on THURSDAY night

The FILM SCHOOL song, "P.S." will appear in tomorrow night's episode of STUDIO 7 to be aired on the WB. The show is sort of like that documentary "SPELLBOUND" but it's a reality TV show. Should be pretty cool, especially because they are playing FILM SCHOOL.

Monday, August 09, 2004

MALTA needs you - the voice of tomorrow............

Time in Malta are currently looking for a new vocalist. Original vocalist, Todd Gullion, has left the band on good terms in order to go back to school and pursue other personal goals. T.I.M. will start auditioning candidates as early as next week in hopes of finding someone with explosive personality and ability to go out and continue touring in support of the new album "Alone with the Alone".

Monday, August 02, 2004

New DAVID HOPKINS EP to be called 'Scared Rabbit'

David and Damien just walked in tonight and handed me the master copy of the soon to be released 'Scared Rabbit EP'. This thing sounds amazing! My new favorite is the "Dead Pigeon Shuffle", like The Lovin' Spoonful meets the 59th Street Bridge Song.

Tracklisting:Scared Rabbit
Ginger Hair
End of the Year
Paranoia Song
Tripoli
Dead Pigeon Shuffle
If it Starts Getting Dark

A bunch of Jewish kids from Brooklyn jump-started the music business in the 1960s, and it’s never been the same. Hitmakers is a fabulously entertaining look at these "teens who stole pop music." The amazing convergence of songwriting talent at Manhattan’s Brill Building created a competitive but prolific community of songwriters, almost all of them Jewish, and few of them older than 27. At the Brill, wordsmiths like Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller ("Hound Dog") wrote hit songs for teen idols such as Elvis Presley, and increasingly for explosively talented black artists like Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, and The Shirelles. Songwriting team Carole King (later to become a renowned singer) and husband Gerry Goffin ("Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow") composed at an upright piano in a small cubicle. Their friends and rivals Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil ("You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling") were hard at work just a few millimeters of pressboard away in the next
cubicle. Burt Bachrach, Hal David, and Neil Sedaka were riffing down the hall. Many of them worked for music producer Don Kirshner, who had tapped into the zeitgeist of 1960s youth, and understood that young teen
audiences wanted to buy records by both white and black artists. These were magical years, when smart kids from Brooklyn hopped the subway into Manhattan with crumpled song sheets in hand, swept along by the passion and raw energy of rock ‘n roll. John Turturro narrates this toe-tapping documentary about a formative period in the history of American music, race relations and the nascent record industry. Featuring interviews and archival footage of The Drifters, Aretha Franklin, Ellie Greenwich, Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman, The Righteous Brothers, The Shirelles, and Dionne Warwick.

This SUX - The Beta Band are done

This isn’t the way it’s supposed to happen. After a band makes its best record to date, they are destined to hit the road, share their live glory with new fans and old fans alike, and relish in the fact that they are hitting on all cylinders. They’re not supposed to BREAK UP. But that’s what’s happened, sadly, to The Beta Band. The Scottish quartet, who this year released the mighty fine album that is Heroes To Zeroes, have called it quits after four records and eight years as a band. Evidently the fact that the critics always loved their records but the record buying public didn’t follow suit has played a large part in their decision. However, don’t expect the boys to just drop off the face of the planet. Steve Mason and Richard Greentree have solo albums in the works, as well as another King Biscuit Time on the way from Mr. Mason. And Robin Jones and John Maclean will continue their work in the video realm. So perhaps this isn’t as much an ending as a new beginning? We’ll see how it all pans out.